Knitting machine



'Aug.18,1936. w. LARKlN I 2,651,724

' KNITTING MACHINE Filed May 28, 1932' 17 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ira/22% Aug. 18, 1936. w. LARKIN KNITTING MACHINE Filed May 28, 1932 17 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 18, 1936. w. LARKIN KNITTING MACHINE Filed May 28, 1932 17 Sheets-Sheet 4 Aug. 18, 1936. w. LARKIN' KNITTING MACHINE Filea May 28, 1932 I 17 Sheets-Sheet 5 Aug. 18, 1936. w. LARKIN 2,051,724

KNITTING MACHINE Filed May 28, 1932 17 Sheets-Sheet 6 & E

Aug. 18, 1936. w LARKlN I 2,051,724

KNITTING MACHINE Filed May 28, 1932 17 Sheets-Sheet 7 Aug. 18, 1936. w. LARKIN KNITTING MACHINE Filed May 28, 1932 l7 Sheets-Sheet 8 Aug. 18, 1936. w- LARKIN KNITTING MACHINE Filed May 28, 1932 17 Sheets-Sheet 9 Aug. 18, 1936. w. LARKlN 2,051,724

KNITTING MACHINE Filed May 28, 1932 17 Sheets-Sheet 10 1936- w. LARKIN v 2,051,724

KNITTING MACHINE Filed May 28, 1932 Q g 3; W Q% R Q w 17 Sheets-Sheet 11 1936. w. LARKIN 2,051,724

KNITTING MACHINE Filed May 28, 1932 17 Sheets-Sheet 12 V I 'z "WWW MWI M /26 Z4 6 2/5 l g .Aug. 18, i936.

W. LARKIN KNITTING MACHINE Filed May 28, 1932 1'7 Sheets-Sheet 13 Aug. 18, 1936. w. LARKIN 7 2,051,724

KNITTING MACHINE Filed May 28, 1932 I 17 Sheets-Sheet 14 C E 'v Aug. 18, 1936. w. LARKIN 2,051,724

IIIIIIIIIIIII NE Aug. 18, 1936. w. LARKIN KNITTING MACHINE 17 Sheets-Sheet 16 Filed May 28, 1932 Patented Aug. 18, 1936 KNITTING MACHINE- Walter Larkin, Norristown, Pa., assignor to Fidelity Machine Company, Wilmington, DeL, a. corporation of Delaware Application May 28, 1932, Serial No. 614,216

47- Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in knit ting machines of the type shown and described in the applicants prior U. S. Letters Patent No.1 1,841,249, dated January 12, l932, 'which discloses a circular rib knitting machine provided with mechanism for selectively changing the yarn being fed to the cylinder and dial needles of'the machine to produce a tubular seamless foundationfabric, whereby the foundation fabric may consist of a plurality of horizontal or coursewise' stripes of desired widths and respectively com-- tively, to form vertical or walewisestripes in the fabric, in continuous or interrupted form, in immediately adjacent or laterally spaced outside wales of the fabric, for producing designs of desired configuration on. the outer face of the fabric either independently of or coordinately with the coursewise stripes produced by the foundation yarn changes.

The object of the present invention is to construct the mechanism that controls-the actuation of the thread-manipulating instrumentalities in such a manner as to increase the field of utility of the type of machine disclosed in the above-mentioned patent; whereby, the possible range of design produced by needle wrapping alone, or by needle wrapping in combination with foundation yarn changing maybe considerably increased; and whereby such mechanism, cooperating with various modified forms of threadmanipulating instrumentalities, may be utilized in the production of a foundation fabric having eyelets or other openings arranged separately or in predetermined relation to each other to form openwork areas or designs of predetermined 0011'- tour directly in the foundation fabric; and whereby openwork designs and designs composed of needle wrapping may be produced in the same 'fabric in predetermined relation 'to each other,

either independently of or coordinately with each other, to obtain predetermined effects, with or without changing of the foundation yarn as desired; and whereby designs or other areas may be produced in the foundation fabric which differ in character and appearance from the adjacent portions of the foundation fabric, such differentiating designs or areas to be composedof plain loops projecting outwardly from the foundation fabric to produce frieze effects, or. wherein the projectin loops may be brushed or cut to produce I taken on the line 88, Fig. 7;

fleece or pile .eifects, with the frieze, fleece,.or pile effects covering the entire foundation fabric, or predeterminedportions thereof, to depict various designs thereon as desired; and whereby ,the frieze, fleece, or pile areas may be employed in 4 5 conjunction with openwork or plated areas in the production of a wide range of designs on the outer face of the foundation fabric.

Inthe accompanying drawings: Fig.1 is aside elevation'of the machine em- 10 :bodyingthe improved features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of that portion of the machine shown in Fig. 1 that immediately concerns the present invention;

. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation taken on the line Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 4 4, Fig.'2;

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary sectional plan views, similar to Fig. 4, showing various elements 20 of the machine in different operating positions from those shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation taken on theline 1 -1, Fig. 4; Fig.- 8 is a fragmentary sectional plan view 25 Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 7; l

Fig. 10 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 'lll-Ill, Fig. 2; I v Fig 11 is a sectional plan view taken on the line I'l-H, Fig. 2;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the needle and loop former aligning wheel shown in Figs. 2, 10 35 and 11;

Figsql3 and-14 are sectional elevations of a preferred form of dogless mechanism for holding the needle dial and carrier stationary and for I feeding the foundation yarn to the needles of the 40 machine;

Fig. 15 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Figs. 13,.and 14;

Fig. 16 is a sectional elevation of a modified form of dogless mechanism;

Fig. 17 is a sectional elevation similar to Fig. 3 showing the mechanism arranged to produce openwork without needle wrapping;

Fig. 18 is a diagrammatic plan view of the cams associated with the thread-manipulating instrumentalities;

Fig. 19 is a diagrammatic flat development of the cams in the cylinder cam ring;

Fig. 20 is a perspective view of the trick wheel in course of assembling;

v the thread-manipulating Fig. 21 is aperspective view of the trick wheel cap platen Fig. 2.2 is a perspective view of one form of trick wheel lug;

Fig. 23 is a perspective view of of trick wheel lug; Fig. 24 is a plan -view of the trick wheel with the cap plate removed; I 'Fig. 25 is a sectional elevation .of'the trick wheel taken on the line 25-25, Fig. 24; Fig. 26 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation taken on the line 2626, Fig. 24;

another form Figs. 27 and 28 are respectively flat plan and elevation developments of the cylinder and dial needles and thread-manipulating instrumentali ties, illustrating previously selected thread-manipulating elements as taking thread and formingloops in conjunction with the cylinder and dial needles;

Figs. 29 and 30 are similar views illustrating instrumentalities .as transferring their hooked loops to adjacent cylinder needles; I

,Fig. 31 is a stitch diagram showing a single hooked loop in-a single Wale and single course 'displaced laterally to provide a small eyelet in the fabric in accordance with the illustration of Figs.- 2'7'to 30 inclusive; v 'Fig. 32 illustrates a larger eyelet comprising a pair 'of hooked loops in successive courses in a single Wale displaced laterally in amanner similarto the single hooked loop in Fig. 31;

Fig. 33 illustrates a still largeropening composed of a plurality of hooked loops held by*'a single instrumentality for a plurality of courses and subsequently transferred laterally to a single cylinder needle;

Fig. 34 shows a plurality of single looped loops respectively transferred in successive courses in a single wale;

Fig. 35.illustrates a medium sized opening surrounded by plating on adjacent cylinder needle foundation fabric simultaneously with one of the;

threadsfhook-looped andtransferred laterally to provide an opening through which the other of the foundation threads appears as a background;

Fig. 38 illustrates the relation of'the cylinder needles, dial needles, hooks and thread guides to produce the fabric shown-in Fig. '37;

Fig. 39 illustrates loops projecting outwardly from the face of the fabric without transfer and produced by the mechanism shown in Fig. 38;

Fig. 40 illustrates a thread-manipulating inst-rurnentality for producing the non-transferred loops of Fig. 39;

Fig. .41 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 4l--4l, Fig. 2; and

Fig. 42 is a'detail view of a separator betwee the two instrumentalities shown in Fig. 36.

The machine comprises a base plate I, to which is secured a hollow annular element 'Z'having a flange 3 on which is secured a base ring 4. The

base ring 4 is provided with a flange'B to which is.

secured a cylinder-carrying ring E-having a counterbore l. in which is adjustably mounted the lower end of the needle cylinder 8 secured to the ring 6 by screwsfla The cylinder 8 rests on an adjusting ring 9, which is threaded into the ring 6, as shown in Figs. 3 and 17, for purposes hereinafter described.

' edge of the opening ll, said ring ,gear l2 snugly fitting and rotating about the outer peripheral surface l3 of the base ring 4.

Carried by the cylinder cam plate i is a cylinder cam ring I provided with the usual assortment of cams for operating the cylinder needles l6, l6, respectively mounted in grooves |'l,. H in i the peripheral surface of the cylinder 8.

Secured to the rotating cylinder cam plate It! are vertical'posts l8, I8 which support a ring for rotation with the cylinder cam plate ID. The ring 20'is counterbored at 2! to receive and support a relatively stationary flange 22 of a stationary cylindrical carrier-23.

Thecarrier 23 is. vertically grooved at 24, 24 in substantially vertical alignment with the needle cylinder grooves I],- II respectively. Pivotally mountedin the lower end of each groove 24 is one or more thread-manipulating instrumentalities 25, which will be more specifically referred tohereinafter, and above and cooperating with the thread-manipulating instrumentalities in said groove is one or more actuating jacks-26,

which will be more specifically referred to hereinafter. v

The stationary carrier 23 is provided with a, fixed upper head 21 and a fixed lower head 28 providing bearings 29 and respectively for a rotatable tubular shaft 32, within which is mounted a relatively stationary dial post 33.

To the lowerend of the. stationary dial post '33 is secured the usual needle dial 34 having radial grooves 35 in which are operatively mounted. the dial needles 36. The dial needles 36, as usual,

are adapted to alternate with and project outwardly between the cylinder needles, I6, I6 for producing a foundation circular knit ribbed fabric in the usual manner.

Secured to the lower end of the rotatable tubular shaft 32 is a dial 0am plate 31 provided with the usual assortment ofcams arranged to operate the dial needles 36 coordinately with the cylinder needles IE to produce the circular knit ribbed fabric. and to provide ordinary welt, selvedge, and loose courses in the string of tubular fabric being produced on the machine.

In the machine shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3; 7 and 13,

the'upper head 21 of the carrier 23 rigidly supports ahollow column 40 which rigidly supports at its upper end a circular top plate 4|. Projecting above and rigidly secured to the fixed plate shaft 46 is rotatably mounted in a bearing 41' rigidly secured to the fixed bracket 42. The opposite end of the tubular shaft 46 is rotatably mounted in bearings 48, 48 formed in a housing 49 which is rigidlyjsecured to the upper end of a fixed standard 50 that is secured to the base plate I of the machine. Intermediate the bearings 48, 48 of the tubular shaft 46 is-secured a beveled gear- 5| which meshes with a beveled gear, 52 secured to the upper end. of a vertical shaft 53 journaled in th'estandard 50. On the lower end of the shaft 53 is secured a beveled gear 54 mesh- 4| is a bracket 42 having a bearing 43 for the to the main operating shaft (not shown) of the 'machine, to effect one completeirevolution o! the tubular shaft 32, and consequently the dial cam 1 plate 31 carried thereby, for each complete revolution of the cylinder cam plate I8, the cylinder cam ring I5 and the carrier-supporting ring 28 carried thereby.

Secured to the fixed bracket 42 is a bracket 51 provided with a. boss 58 in which the upper end of the dial post 33 is non-rotatably secured, by

means of a set screw 59, a ,lock nut 68 being threaded on the upper end of the post 33 above the boss 58 for supporting the weight thereof in a vertical direction and providing for vertical adjustment of the dial 34 with respect to the upper end of the needle cylinder 8.

Secured to the central hollow column 48 intermediate the stationary carrier 23 and the stationary top plate 4| is a series of shelves 6| arranged to support bobbins containing the threads which are fed downwardly to the thread-manipulating instrumentalities 25, when suchinstrumentalities take on the form of needle-wrapping fingers, to produce plating on the outside wales of the fabric formed by the cylinder needles I6, I6 respectively.

In order to'feed a foundation thread A tothe cylinder and dial needles of themachine, that form of the machine illustrated in Figs. .1, 2, 3 and 7 is provided with a thread-carrying ring 65 which encircles and rotates about the peripheral edge of the stationary top plate 4| within a fixed annular stabilizing guide 66 that is secured to the upper end of the standard 58.

- Secured to the rotating carrier-supporting ring 28 are brackets 61 and 68, which respectively support the lower ends of vertical rods 69 and 18 having their-upper ends secured in the ring 65.

, One of said rods, as for instance the rod 18, is of hollow construction and projects above the plate 4|, as indicated at 1|, for the reception of the foundation. thread A as it passes upwardly from the main thread guide through the hollow rod 18 and into a hollow laterally extending arm 14 ,of the tubular horizontal shaft 46, the foundation thread A then passing through the outer end of the tubular shaft 46 to the stop motion of the machine, as disclosed in the above-mentioned patent, and thence to the foundation yarn-changchine as a single continuous thread.

The main thread guide .15 is secured to the cylinder cam ring I5, by a post 16, and as the cylinder cam ring I 5, the carrier-supporting ring 28, the thread carrier ring 65 and the horizontal shaft 46 rotate in unison, in one-to-one ratio with respect to each other, the foundation thread Ais carried around those stationary portions of the machine that are centrally located above the cylinder 8, the thread A being guided over the bracket 42 and the elements carried thereby by laterally extending arms 13, 13 secured to the upper end of the stationary dial post 33.

The individual wrapping threads B pass upwardly from the bobbins B carried by the shelves 6 through suitable guides and tensioning means (not shown), thence downwardly through suitable eyes 12 in said shelves and into the upper ends of the grooves 24, in which the jacks 26 and thread-manipulating elements 25 are mount- -ed-, thencedownthrough the ring 28 and along one side of the respective jacks to and through jthread eyes in the lower end 25a of the thread-- manipulating element 25 in the lower end of said slot, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 to be selectively wrapped about the needle I6 with which the lower end 25a of the thread-manipulating element is arranged to cooperate.

In other instances the lower ends of the threadmanipulating instrumentalities 25 take on the form of a hook as illustrated at 25b in Figs. 3, '7

andl' L' and in other instances the lower ends of the elements 25 take the form of pickers or loop formers as illustrated at 250 in Fig. 40 for purposes that will be fully disclosed hereinaften.

In each instance the thread-manipulating elements 25 are pivotally mounted upon an annular element 11 seated in a groove 18 formed circumferentially of and in the peripheral surface of the engaged by the rear edge 8| of a, cooperatingjack 26.

Each of the jacks 2a is notched'at its upper endas indicated at 82' for the reception of a pivot element 83, which is in the form of a ring seated in a circumferentially extending groove 84' formed in the peripheral surface of the carrier 23 adjacent the upper end thereof.

Along the outer edge of each jack: 26, upwardly from the lower end thereof, the said jack is slitted inwardly as indicated at 85, to provide a series of frangible buttsa to 11 inclusive as indicated in Fig.'

3, which are adapted to be broken out as desired in laying out a pattern or design to be depicted on the outer surface of the fabric'by selective actuation of the thread-manipulating elements 25.

Arranged to cooperate with the butts a to y respectively is a series of selector arms IM to I25 respectively, as shown in Fig. 7, each of which is adapted to be actuated by one or more of a series of lugs I26 interchangeably carried by a trick wheel I 88 which is rotatably mounted on a bearing sleeve I99circularly adjustable on and secured to an eccentric portion 98 of a dependingstud 99 which is axially and rotatably adjustable in and carried by the rotary plate 28, the axial and circular adjustment of the stud 99 and'the circular adjustment of the bearing sleeve I99 relative to the eccentric portion 98 of the stud 99' providing for operative alignment of the lugs, disposed in various elevations on the periphery of the trick wheel, with the selector arms I8I to I25 respectively.

The lower end of the stud 99 passes through and supports a horizontal plate I21 which is also supported by a second stud I28 having its upper end secured in the ring 28 and its lower end secured in said plate I21. The selector arms IM to I25 are pivotally mounted in'superposed parallel relation to each other on the stud I28. 7

Pivotally mounted on a concentric portion of the stud 99 above and below the plate I21 are relatively spaced portions of a bifurcated hub of a pawl arm I38 (see Figs. 1, 2, 4, 6 and '1). 0n the outer end of the arm I38 is pivotally mounted a 

